April 20, 2010
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THIS WEEK
The 28th ranked University of Iowa women’s tennis team hosts No. 52 Purdue in its final regular season match of the season. The teams will meet on the Klotz Outdoor Tennis Courts Friday night for a 5 p.m. face off.
Prior to the start of the match, the University of Iowa and the women’s tennis program will recognize the team’s three senior athletes, Merel Beelen, Kelcie Klockenga and Zuzana Chmelarova.
THE COMPETITION
Purdue is ranked 52nd by the ITA, but has been as high as 35th this season. The Boilermakers have compiled a 15-4 record overall and sit at 4-4 in the Big Ten conference. Head Coach Laura Glitz is in her third year at Purdue. The young team, consisting of two freshmen, four sophomores, one junior and one senior, has made a complete turn around from the 2008-09 season, improving on last year’s 8-15 record.
HAWKEYE SENIORS
Beelen, a native of Grubbenvorst, Holland, has compiled a career 57-57 singles record and a 62-34 doubles record. The four-time letterwinner enjoyed her most successful season during her sophomore campaign, finishing the year with a 25-7 singles and 17-11 doubles record.
During her senior year, she has teamed up with sophomore Sonja Molnar to make a run as one of the most dominate doubles teams in Iowa history. The duo has put together an impressive 14-2 overall record and 12-1 record in dual action. Beelen and Molnar are currently ranked 13th in the nation, the second highest a doubles team has been ranked at Iowa.
Chmelarova, in her first year as a Hawkeye, is from Prague, Czech Republic. She was a two-time Big 12 doubles champion prior to her move to Iowa. Chmelarova competed in the fall season, earning a 5-2 doubles record and a 5-5 singles record.
Klockenga, a native of Overland Park, KS, is in the midst of her most successful season at Iowa. She has put together an impressive 17-9 singles record, 11-7 in dual play. She teams with junior Jessica Young in double competition. The duo is 20-10 overall and 12-8 in dual action. During her career at Iowa, she has recorded a 68-54 singles record and 66-63 doubles record. She is a four-time letterwinner.
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
As the end of the season nears, the University of Iowa is preparing to host the Big Ten Championships April 29-May 2. This is the third time Iowa has hosted the tournament. The Hawkeyes hosted the 1985 and 1994 championships.
Matches, beginning Thursday morning and ending Sunday afternoon, will be played on the Klotz Outdoor Courts. The championship match is scheduled to begin at noon Sunday and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network May 9th at 3 p.m. (CT).
Seedings will be announced following the final conference matches the weekend prior to the tournament. Information about the championships can be found on the women’s tennis site on www.hawkeyesports.com.
UP NEXT
Iowa hosts the 2010 Big Ten Women’s Tennis Championships April 29-May 2. The Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex will be home to the four-day event. Matches will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday and continue through the weekend leading up to the championship match at noon Sunday.